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After days of rumours and votes of confidence from Canadian leaders, former Governor General Michaelle Jean was named Secretary General of La Francophonie Sunday.
“On behalf of Canada, I would like to congratulate Michaelle Jean on her election of as the secretary general of La Francophonie. I am especially pleased that, for the first time in its history, La Francophonie has elected a Canadian woman as its head,” said Canadian Prime Minster Stephen Harper in a statement issued Sunday. Canada is a member and the second-largest donor of La Francophonie.
Jean, 57, was elected as the secretary general of La Francophonie at the 15th summit of La Francophonie being held in Senegal of Africa now. She is expected to take office in January, 2015. She will be the third person and the first woman to hold the position.
Jean is Canadian stateswoman and former journalist who served as Governor General of Canada, 27th since Canadian Confederation from 2005 to 2010.
Before Sunday, Jean was UNESCO Special Envoy for Haiti, Chancellor of the University of Ottawa, and Grand Tmoin de la Francophonie at the London Olympic Games.
Agencies/Canadajournal
